The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-04-07
The April Elections.

The municipal and State elections which
have occurred this week have shown a
fusion of heretofore discordant
elements. In Stanton the License PEG.
pie carried the election by the small ma
jorlty of 95. Old party lines were entirely
ignored, and Republicans and Democrats
were found working side by side In either
interest. Everything considered the tenn
perance people made a remarkable fight,
when the Influences they had to encounter
are remembered. The result demonstrates
the growth Of the temperance sentiment,
ana that it must necessarily play an I'M
pJrtant part in all future elections. It
is a sentiment that, in the nature of
things. must grow, and cannot be arrested
by old party managers or regulated by old
party machinery.
In Michigan the Republicans carry the
State pr supreme judges and regents,
while the prohititionists lose the EcoDsti-
-tutional amendment by about 5000. The
result shows, however, remarkable vital
ity,And strength in the temperance cause
in that State.
In Chicago. the issue was between. the
Republicans and Socialists, the Democrats
falling to nominate a ticket. The bulk
of the party went over to the Socialists.
but enough of the solid element of the
Democrats supported the Republican tick
ct and elected it by something like 80, 900
majority. For a number of years the
Democrats have controlled the city, but
it now seems the party has been entirely
wiped out and fused with the Socialists.
In Cincinnati, where there were Re-
publican, Democratic and Labor tickets,
the Republicans elect their candidates
and will control all departments Of the
city government. The Democratic can
didates fsn far behind both the other tick
cts. and appeared as a diminutiye third
p}rty in the contest. Amor Smith, Re-
publican, was elected mayor over Steven.
son. Labor candidate, by SIG, and 6,0l2
over Matson, Democrat. Both the Dem
ocratic and Republican papers speak in
the highest terms of the conduct of the
Labor party--its orderly and clean meth
DDS and the conservative influences they
invoked. The Commercial says :: "The
most remarkable thing about the election
| is the appearance of the Democratic party
as the third party. Whatever may be the
deficiencies of the Labor.party in the ex-
cess Of their theories, which may be mod
flied by experience, they are not in politics
for Doodle, and whatever might happen to
them if they were long in the enjoyment
of power, they start fair as honest men,
and it is a profound satisfaction, though
they chased Amor Smith so close, that
they out voted the Doodle Democracy"
| In Cleveland, Ohio, the election re-
suited in clean sweep for the Democrats,
they electing their ticket by 5000 major.
ity. This is Democratic gain. The
1 ''stay home vote'' caused the defeat, al
though the Republican candidate is one
of the most popular men in the city.
The Republicans carry Toledo by an in
creased vote and lose Columbus by de-
creased Democratic majority. The Republl
cans elect their ticket in Springfield, and
gain generally in the State, although in
some localities their vote was decreased.
In Connecticut the Republicans carry
Bridgeport and Hartford by increased ma
jorities.
| In Helena, Montana, 1.-THE Democrats
elect the mayor, and the Republicans the
treasurer and five out of the seven alder.
men-Republican gain.
| The Knights Of Labor make a clean
sweep in Dubuque, Iowa, electlng all the
city Offices and controlling the city gov
ernment
The results announced above, evidence
that there has been marked disruption
Of old parties, and that the Labor and
Temperance organizations are growing
rapidly in power and effective discipline,
It requires no especial political acumen
or foresight to interpret these results
They mean that the old parties will either
haveto announce themselves distinctly IN
three prominent questions, or see their
lines broken and new party spring into
existence with the power of a young giant
These questions are Labor (which. compre
bends judicious protection to American
industries), Temperance and National aid
| to public education on the basis.of litter
acy. We have before stated that ma
tional party would, in the near future, be
| founded on these three vital and vitalizine
issues, but we did not expect it to mate
riaize before 1892. The signs. indicate
however, that these questions will be
made paramount before. that time, and
| that the problem will be presented to the
National Conventions of the Republican
and Democratic parties. in 1888. "what are
you going to do with them ?'' Last Mon.
| day evening at reception extended tc
eX presiding Judge Noah Davis by the Re-
publican Club of New York. on his first
appearance as member, in some remarks
| in response to welcoming address, after
referring to the necessity for free ballot
and fair count and to Socialism and Nj
hilism. he said But the great crying
evil is not that. In this country the evil
of the liquor saloon is becoming so terri
Bile that it will conquer the country or the
Republican party must conquer it. In q
recent conversation with Senator Evarts ]
was pleased to find that he had reached the
same conclusion and he will so expires
himself publicly when occasion offers.
don t stand here to preach prohibition, but
to say that the Republican party shall dc
what is practicable to crush out the sa.
loon, which is the nursery of the Democ.
racy. am going to face the issues of the
future with you. This club is power. 1t
will grow and strengl hen with its growth.
It is composed of men capable of compre-
bending the advantages of protection to
our industry, the evils of Socialism and
of the saloon.
There is no sense or policy in trying to
dodge or ignore these three great ques-
tions. They areto the front, and tie par
ty that refuses to recognize them and de-
clare ITSELF unequivocally in relation to
them is doomed already. They implicate
the intellectual, moral ard industrial
growth snl health oflhe nation, and appeal
ing as they do to the conscience of the
people will necessarily be sustained with a
)urage and a determination that will de-